Prince Harry is reportedly growing closer to his uncle, Earl Spencer, as speculation builds that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are developing a documentary about Harry’s late mother, Princess Diana.
Royal commentator Tom Sykes told Page Six exclusively that Harry may be trying to win over Diana’s brother, suggesting the renewed relationship could be driven partly by financial considerations.
“There is no denying [Spencer] is a big name, and he will give the documentary credibility. So [the Sussexes] need to woo him and get him onside,” Sykes claimed.
He added that Harry and Meghan’s recent activity in the UK may ultimately be connected to a Diana project. “What Harry and Meghan are actually doing back in the UK is finally revealed — they are making a Diana film, and Spencer is likely being lined up as its star,” Sykes said.
Sykes also suggested there may be a calculated reason behind Harry’s reported support for Spencer’s controversial memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister. In the book, Diana’s brother makes claims about what he describes as King Charles III’s harsh treatment of her.
The journalist pointed to what he viewed as subtle indications of the Sussexes’ backing during the memoir’s release. Among them was a swan emoji shared by Meghan’s As Ever account during the week Spencer’s book dominated royal coverage.
Sykes further noted that Spencer recently said Harry was “completely fine” with the contents of the memoir.
“He would not have made that comment unless he had been given the nod to say, in effect, that Harry and Meghan are behind it,” Sykes claimed.
In Sykes’ view, however, money may be a more significant factor than family sentiment in Harry’s apparent alignment with the Spencer family.
“Money, rather than any deep emotional bond, is, I suspect, why Harry appears so close to the Spencer side of the family right now,” he said.
Sykes also offered his interpretation of the documentary’s possible storyline, saying Harry could present himself as “the true inheritor of Diana’s legacy.”
“Harry will seek to identify himself very closely with Diana as this brave person who stood up against the cruel and heartless royal family,” Sykes said.
The journalist predicted that the project, if it moves forward, could contain “lots of massive bombshells.” He claimed the broader objective for Harry and Meghan could be to generate “tens of millions of dollars.”
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Sykes acknowledged that Harry’s longstanding criticism of the monarchy echoes some aspects of Diana’s experience after her separation from Charles.
“So yes, there is a line to be drawn between the way Diana was treated and the way Harry now views the monarchy,” Sykes said.
At the same time, he noted that many people in the UK consider Harry’s continued resentment “absurd,” particularly in light of the privileges he has received throughout his life.
Asked how seriously Buckingham Palace may be treating Spencer’s latest allegations, Sykes pointed to what he described as King Charles’ unusual decision to respond publicly to the memoir.
“The King’s public statement was unprecedented, which does go to show how seriously they are taking the risk,” Sykes said.
Page Six said it contacted representatives for Harry and Meghan for comment.
The Telegraph reported this week that Spencer and several of Diana’s friends had approached Harry about taking part in a possible film honoring her ahead of the 30th anniversary of her death.
Diana died on Aug. 31, 1997, after getting into a car crash in Paris while being chased by paparazzi. She was 36.
The outlet reported that the film could be produced by Harry and Markle’s Archewell Productions and most likely be bought by Netflix, considering their ties to the streaming service. However, no project has officially been confirmed.
“He is still considering the most meaningful way to honor her legacy during this important anniversary year,” a source told the outlet, adding that Harry is in talks about several possible projects.
Sources claimed earlier this year that one of the reasons Harry and Markle moved back to the UK was to make a movie about Diana.
Harry and Markle, along with their three kids, returned to the UK after living in California for six years. They initially settled in Montecito after resigning from their royal duties in 2020.
Since their return, Charles has made clear that Harry and the ‘With Love, Meghan” host remain private citizens and will not be taking on official royal duties.
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